Wright Writes about Right and Rites: Nimrod's Notes

By David Robert Wright

My book is a philosophical journey through a life and a career touching six continents and many interesting characters. In so, I was discovering lessons and truths (whether or not I was consciously seeking them). My upbringing by God-loving Christian parents laid the foundation for making TRUTH and RIGHT priorities as I navigated through daily experiences. As I aged and matured, these discoveries became more common and more profound. I felt it important to preservemy thought and judgme

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781644626825

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Wright Writes about Right and Rites

Nimrod's Notes

David Robert Wright

Copyright © 2019 David Robert Wright

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2019

ISBN 978-1-64462-681-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64462-682-5 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Feelings about Ourselves

Honesty or Privacy

Guilt

Love and Emotion

Sex

Affection

Marriage

Children

Friendship

Acquaintances

Jealousy

Happiness

Luck

Fate

A Sense of Humor

Health and Stamina

Teaching, Discussion, Argument, and Debate

Learning and Life

Time

God

Eternity, Death, Heaven, and Reincarnation

Prophets, Messengers, and Enlightened Teachers

Jesus of Nazareth

The Bible

Creationism or Evolution

Sin

The Christian Church

My Own Beliefs

Peace of Mind

Freedom

Preface

Why Have I Written This?

First, for myself, to set down my thoughts in an orderly fashion. This has value to me—useful during my own reconsideration of those thoughts.

Second, for my dear friends who may have despaired of ever understanding me.

Third, from time to time I am called upon by people who are seeking advice, or at least an opinion, about their own lives. I choose to interpret from this, they have perceived some evidence of wisdom in me. I have definitive views on life and religion, but often times, off the cuff, find presenting my viewpoints a task. How easy to leave out some major point—or make the false assumption that we share a common point of view—or that we have the same sense of what is right, wrong, or reasonable. Herein, I attempt to put my basic and personal views down simply, briefly, and in some semblance of order. Now, what of my style of writing? My friends know that my sense of humor is a prized characteristic. I have a talent for being corny and making painful puns. Though I believe life should be lived with a sense of humor, I also believe that we should take seriously our dedication to making of life the most within our potential. I have thus attempted to avoid too many humorous passages herein, fearing that some readers might take them seriously—or might simply not understand my meaning. There is, however, a section included on sense of humor so my friends will not misunderstand having been left un-pun-ished by jokes herein.

Current revisions to this treatise are made after decades of living—a leap from the late seventies to the twenty-first century. Reviewing my manuscripts, however, I am struck by how much of what I wrote earlier still retains my core beliefs, ideas, and philosophies. Revisions now are—in many respects—actually more clarifications than changes. However, there were some areas where my views now vary from what they were when I started this project and composed it. The first draft was composed over a couple of years when I was still spending the majority of my time traveling the world—performing and singing. I think we would all hope that living will teach us new things—correcting and clarifying views. I trust that as I continue life, I will continually learn so that at some point in the future, this process of revision may need to be done again. Though at first, I wrote this primarily for my friends and acquaintances as a tool for greater understanding, I now would like to think that what I have written may have a broader appeal and application.

I see increasingly that there are those who have a desire to try to spread their wings in life, but also hope to keep themselves grounded—excluding from or including in their lives—ideas, teachings, and beliefs that may not have originated as their own. Some may be programmed so deeply they’re unable to free themselves from them. It is not my intention necessarily that they adopt my views but hope that reading and considering them may awaken such seekers, or pilgrims, to additional options, and coax them toward fruitful personal exploration. If my treatise encourages them to delve more deeply into what may lie dormant within them—views that are inherent to their inner person hungering for greater enlightenment—then the time spent setting down these thoughts and observations will certainly have been well spent. For some pilgrims that understanding is dormant, only waiting to be awakened in them. What an honor if my personal breaks with convention embolden them to make their own.

Introduction

Living is to learn, and to change.

There surely has been an internal metamorphosis of my view of myself, and of others. Priorities have changed about which things in my life seem of primary importance. In the first part, I lay down views on several of life’s prime components. In the second part, I lay down a few conclusions about certain spiritual and religious questions and concepts—and of course, beliefs.

This clearly leans toward Christianity. There is no way to avoid this, nor have I attempted to. This is my heritage. I have dealt briefly with some things that traditionally lay outside of the realm of Christian teaching. I hope to deal with these more completely at another time. I feel that this will be read primarily by those with either a Jewish or Christian background. I have slanted this commentary accordingly—though not necessarily consciously intending to do so.

Some other faiths are surely uplifting, and I have studied some of them enough to honor them for the strength of their teachings. There are also, however, other faiths that seem to enslave their believers and threaten those who disagree. These faiths have my disdain. This is no attempt to convince anyone to believe as I do. I feel no need to make converts as a way of corroborating my thinking. However, I think most of us have a wish to be at least nominally understood by others—especially those we like and respect. I hope that this is such a tool of understanding.

In the formation of my philosophy, I have actually avoided any in-depth study of other philosophers. This has not been because I thought them of no value, but rather because I, as much as is possible, wanted the conclusions that I made truly to be my own. For me, the reading of history and well-researched historical novels (their characters enable us to understand the past on a personal level) has helped me clarify my philosophies. The observation of how our predecessors have thought and acted—and the resulting effects upon them and their world—tell us much of what to expect when we think and act in a certain ways. I often use this process to reach what I judge to be reasonable philosophies.

However, the formation of my views has certainly been affected by the views I have heard, or read, put forth by others. In many cases, these points might have escaped my consideration had these people not taken the time to expose their thinking. I hope that herein, you will find such a thought or idea exposed so that time you spend with my words is considered worthwhile.

Some have a tendency to credit the way life goes for us to luck—good or bad. Though it is undoubtedly true that we are somewhat at the mercy of the currents we encounter on this journey on the river of life, I believe that we can learn to navigate these currents, and in so doing, alter—for better or worse—the direction and quality of our lives and change our luck.

There are many sorts of good people. Some display flamboyant styles of living or strong language or raucous celebrations of their leisure, pleasure, and friends—thus, strongly punctuating life. Such people often attract or fascinate us. Others may opt for a more laid back or sedate approach, gentler ways of expressing themselves. The inner persons within these sorts